Years ago, Holmes & Rahe crafted the first formal measure of the
impact of stress on people. At the top of their list are events
like the death of your life partner, a divorce, serious illness
and the like, all the way down to something simple like getting
a parking ticket. The valid notion underpinning the stress
measurement scale is that each time we encounter change, we have
to adapt. When we’re in charge of the change it’s fine.
Theoretically (unless your partner’s nagging you to get it done)
to mow or not to mow your grass shouldn’t cause stress. Because
it’s a decision or action under your control. It’s the things
over which we don’t have control that cause stress. Today, more
than anything, it’s the speed of technological and sociological
change that is a significant stress driver for developed economy
inhabitants.

Some examples: There’s an emerging right-wing political movement
in Europe and Australia. Based largely on a racist,
anti-immigration platform. Recently, people who detest French
President Jacques Chirac had to vote for him in order to prevent
rabid right-winger Jean-Marie Le Pen from becoming French
President. An unthinkable prospect but it nearly happened!

On the medical front, bio-engineering permits astonishing
medical interventions. Cryo-therapy (liquid nitrogen) having
failed on sun damage lesions (courtesy of the then SADF) on my
face, I’ve just finished using a high-tech cream which attacks
only the sun damaged cells. Thermal scans of the brain can tell
us unequivocally if someone is lying. Vocal patterns measured on
commercially available software running via the modem on your
computer can do the same as you’re talking to someone. It’s
being used in fraud and corruption prevention around the world.

Ozone pumped over decaying tooth enamel renders bacteria inert
and reduces the need for drilling. An algorithm ‘reads’ your
dog’s bark and via a little liquid crystal screen on Rover’s
collar, can tell you whether he’s bored, hungry, wants to play
or is afraid. Mobile phones have irretrievably changed the lives
of millions of people. International media networks allow us to
track what’s going on around the world in a matter of minutes.
Personal digital assistants (PDA’s) and notebook computers
haven’t put more time in your life. All they do is let you do
even more in the little time available.

Recently conceptualized self-destructing DVD’s, hold promise as
the answer to music and movie pirating. Once you’ve viewed or
listened a maximum of twice, they’ll become unusable.

When the Americans finished bombing Afghanistan, entrepreneurs
in Kabul didn’t plant veggie gardens; they started building
satellite dishes so they could share in what’s going on around
the world. Hungry people maybe, but even more info-hungry.

People bring class-action lawsuits against fast food vendors and
cigarette manufacturers, airlines and reality TV show producers.
All in an attempt to avoid taking responsibility for their own
choices and their lives. It’s always easier to blame someone or
something else. Genes are increasingly being indicted for
everything from alcoholism to hyperactivity and over-eating. In
many instances if we adequately managed our senses, we’d save
ourselves the trouble of looking for external ‘causes.’

In fulfillment of futurist and author John Naisbitt’s
‘High-tech, high-touch’ predictions of years ago, we’re choosing
to die not in ICU’s, but in hospices or in our own homes.
Computer driven customer relationship management (CRM) programs
notwithstanding, good old fashioned customer contact is still
the best service differentiator in business. In fact, it’s so
rare that we consider it exceptional when we experience it.
Companies receive awards for transparency and corporate
governance instead of merely running to an ethical script by
default.

Disease travels around the globe and spreads in twenty four
hours by piggy-backing on aircraft passengers. Surveys show that
more and more people feel that they’re not living fulfilled
lives. A recent BBC survey of viewers and listeners indicated
that ninety two percent of British people felt they were in the
wrong (and unrewarding) job or career. A terrifying statistic.

These are just some of a myriad examples revealing how our world
and therefore our lives are being affected by technological
advance and the speed of change. It’s essential that we take
charge of the facets of change over which we do have control.
That we make decisions about which uncontrollable ones we allow
to influence our lives. That we choose to live using change and
technology to our advantage. That we don’t passively allow our
lives to be dictated to and driven by, technological change. Use
it. Don’t let it use you.

Clive Simpkins
http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/technology-and-change-are-stressing-your-life-2715.html